Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced the appointment of Robe Grune to the position of vice president and general manager of Crowley’s newly formed ship Assist and Escort Services based in Seattle. Grune is responsible for profit and loss for the Ships Assist and Escort Services group and reports directly to Tom Crowley, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation.
Crowley announced the reorganization of its Crowley Marine Services subsidiary into three distinct operating groups in October, including Energy and Marine Services, Ship Assist and Escort Services and Petroleum Services. With present operations in San Diego, Los Angeles/
Long Beach, Puget Sound and in Valdez, Alaska, where Crowley is the sole marine contractor for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, each tug is capable of assisting the largest ships in the world. In addition, this group has responsibility for the company’s role with Marine Response Alliance, of which Crowley is a founding member. The alliance is a joint venture with Marine Pollution Control and provides OPA 90 coverage for rescue towing, lightering, salvage, and firefighting in every U.S. Captain of the Port Zone.
Grune, who joined Crowley in 1995, began his maritime career with a nearly 10 year stint working for Texaco Inc., sailing as an officer on its U.S. flag tanker fleet and later serving as Economics and Planning Analyst for the company in Harrison, N.Y. He has also worked in chartering management for the oil tanker firm OMI Corp., and in tanker chartering management for Continental-Tosco. Since joining Crowley more than seven years ago as director of strategic accounts, Grune has served in various management positions with responsibility for Crowley Marine Services’ ship assist, escort and harbor movements on the U.S. West Coast. Grune graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., and received a Masters in Business Administration from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, N.C.
Todd Busch, who has been promoted to director of sales and will be reporting to Grune, joined Crowley in 1987 as an ordinary Seaman, and has since served aboard company tugs as a chief mate. He came ashore in 1994 as a dispatcher; and has held a variety of other positions with increasing responsibility such as manager customer service and as manager of contract services. Most recently he has been responsible for the commercial contract business, overseeing pricing and the negotiating of contracts for the Contract Services Department as well as the commercial activities for Crowley Emergency Services, and the U.S. Navy Salvage Contract. Busch also serves as a director, representing CMS, on the board of the Marine Response Alliance LLC. Prior to joining Crowley, Busch sailed with the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association. He attended Arizona State University and holds two licenses: Master, 100 Gross Tons Inspected Vessels, and Mate, 200 Gross Tons Inspected Vessels.
Jeff Andreini joined Crowley as a tug dispatcher in San Francisco in 1986 and since that time has been promoted to various management positions. With his most recent promotion to director of finance, Andreini will report to Grune. Andreini’s previous assignment was as manager of business analysis and support in Seattle where he provided planning and business analysis for Crowley Marine Services’ business units. Andreini holds degrees in business administration and finance from California State University, Hayward, and a Masters in Business Administration from City University in Seattle.